A finalist for the New York Jets\u2019 defensive coordinator job is officially off the table.<\/p>\n
According to multiple reporters, Daronte Jones, who earned two interviews for the Jets\u2019 defensive coordinator position<\/a>, has been hired by the Washington Commanders to serve as their DC.<\/p>\n Source: Commanders are finalizing a deal to hire Vikings defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones as their defensive coordinator. <\/p>\n Jones has been one of Brian Flores\u2019 most trusted defensive coaches the past three seasons, and he also has coached\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/SZKKFocpgO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Jones, 47, has been Brian Flores\u2019 right-hand man in Minnesota for the past few seasons and was viewed as his potential successor if Flores and the Vikings did not agree on a contract extension, which they ultimately did.<\/p>\n Minnesota\u2019s defense was among the league\u2019s most disruptive units in 2024 under Jones\u2019 watch, finishing atop the NFL in interceptions (24) and pass deflections (95).<\/p>\n The former LSU DC was one of three candidates to earn a second interview for the Jets\u2019 defensive coordinator role alongside Michigan DC Wink Martindale<\/a> and Chris Harris<\/a>, who served as the Jets\u2019 interim DC for the final three games of the 2025 season.<\/p>\n Among the eight candidates the Jets initially interviewed, five of them remain available, including Cleveland Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, Green Bay Packers defensive line coach\/run-game coordinator DeMarcus Covington, Harris, Martindale, and Denver Broncos defensive pass-game coordinator\/assistant head coach Jim Leonhard.<\/p>\n Per SNY\u2019s Connor Hughes, candidates for the role who spoke with New York came away believing that head coach Aaron Glenn, who served as the Detroit Lions\u2019 DC from 2021-24, wants to call defensive plays in 2026 for Gang Green.<\/p>\n He also added that, \u201cthere is a growing belief among league circles that Chris Harris (DC) and Glenn (calling the plays) is a direction the Jets are warming up to.\u201d<\/p>\n Coordinating candidates who spoke with the #Jets<\/a> recently, per sources, came away from those conversations believing Aaron Glenn wanted to call the plays on defense. <\/p>\n There is a growing belief among league circles that Chris Harris (DC) and Glenn (calling the plays) is a\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/jFJlgQUdFD<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n While the Jets continue to search for their next DC, a Harris-Glenn tandem, with the latter calling plays in 2026, appears to be gaining steam.<\/p>\n